Homepage Television Heaven Logo
Only When I Laugh

Only When I Laugh

1979 - United Kingdom

Set in an NHS hospital where the same three seemingly permanent patients, all congenital hypochondriacs, are forever playing a game of one-upmanship with each other, much to the irritation of house surgeon Dr Gordon Thorpe, played by the excellent Richard Wilson. 

James Bolam, in his first comedy since Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads plays Roy Figgis, a lorry driver who has an opinion on most things be it politics, social issues or medicine, all of which he is a self-confessed expert on. One gets the idea that he'd rather talk than work and in the confines of a small hospital ward he is in his element. He delights mostly in winding up the staff and patients, in particular the hapless and effete Norman Binns (Christopher Strauli), upper-class snob Archie Glover (Peter Bowles) and the ward orderly Gupte (Derrick Branche). 

The series was written by Eric Chappell who was following on from the hugely popular Rising Damp. Once again Chappell benefitted from an excellent ensemble cast who relished every line of his witty, sparkling script and the series was a huge ratings success for ITV running for four series from 1979 to 1982. C4 repeated the series in 1994 to great viewer reception and it is available, season by season or in its entirety, on DVD.

Published on January 16th, 2019. Written by Laurence Marcus for Television Heaven.

Read Next...

Armchair Thriller

By the time the final story of the first series was broadcast, Armchair Thriller had built up quite a following, resulting in the first episode of 'The Limbo Connection', which starred James Bolam as a man in search of his missing wife, achieving an audience in excess of 17 million viewers.

Also starring James Bolam

One Foot In The Grave

The exploits of a pensioner and his long-suffering wife in their battle against the trials of modern life.

Also starring Richard Wilson

Stigma

When workmen attempt to remove a large stone on a property their efforts seem to awaken a centuries-old curse. Katharine, the property owner, begins to bleed from invisible wounds, and when the stone is finally lifted, a skeleton is discovered beneath it

Also starring Peter Bowles

The Bounder

Peter Bowles and George Cole in a comedy about an ex-convict who, upon release from prison for fraud, goes to live with his sister and brother-in-law and begins immediately to disrupt their happy marriage

Also starring Peter Bowles

Telford's Change

Bank manager Mark Telford takes a backward step in his career in order to retreat from the rat race.

Also released in 1979

A Sharp Intake of Breath

Either trying to book a holiday or a doctor appointment, life seems to hand Peter Barnes more than his fair share of frustration.

Also starring Richard Wilson

Soldier and Me

Tense children's drama about two young boys on the run from would-be assassins who are plotting the execution of Czech dissidents in the wake of the 1968 revolt that led to Russia's occupation of their country.

Also starring Richard Wilson

Murder by the Book

When Agatha Christie decides to kill off her most famous and long-running character, she has an unexpected visitor - none other than the great detective himself - Hercule Poirot

Also starring Richard Wilson

Kelly Monteith

The affable American comedian made such a hit with the British public that the BBC gave him his own stand-up comedy and sketch show, which featured a host of well-known stars

Also released in 1979